garlic Hear it!

garlic definition

gar·lic (gär′lik)

noun

  1. a bulbous herb (Allium sativum) of the lily family
  2. the strong-smelling bulb of this plant, made up of small sections called cloves, used as seasoning in meats, salads, etc.

Etymology: ME garlek < OE garleac < gar, a spear (see gore) + leac, leek: from the spearlike leaves

Related Forms:

  • garlicky gar′·licky (-lik ē) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.